The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-04-27
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
TIE Story o. :, Beautiful ;a Errtti"
5i;s,ouri Belle.

!
Missouri Belle.
(St. Louis spcc:a, 20 the New York Times
There was printed here this morning a
dispatch announcing that William Pres
ton Hill had been paid yesterday by the
Public Administrator Of New York a
large sum, being his share Of the pro-
ceeds of his mothers estate. This pay
ment is the elimination OF a romance
rich in incident. There was born At st.
Charles, in 1887, Joanna Behrens,
daughter of DR.. Behrens, wealthy and
prominent physician. The child devel-
oped into 9irl Of great beauty, was
educated in a convent and in 1886 was
the belle OF the county. \ gentleman
who knew her in those days said: "She
was born to be a heroine Of romance.
Her face was for years to me the stand
ard by which all female beauty was to
be judged. 1 do not know II l have
ever seen a more lovely woman since.
She was, think, slightly above the aver
age height of women, about five feet five
inches high, I should Judge, full and
strong in every particular. Her eyes
were large, dark and well shaded by long
lashes. She carried her head like a
queen"
Britton Il. Hill was at this time a
rising young st. Louis lawyer, and is
today leading citizen Of this city. He
vas fascinated by the st. Charles belle
and married her. They travelled IN
Europe for number of years, but diG
not live harmoniously. The young wife S
beauty and intellect attracted the gal
lants Of the gay European capitals and
the husbands position became SO ea-
'oarrassing that a separation took place.
She instituted proceedings for divorce.
He fled cross suit, charging her with
intimacy with Victor Emmanuel and
other notables. Dispositions were taken
in two continents and the case became
an international scandal. Mr.. Hill was
granted his divorce.
After the divorce was granted Mrs
Hill. who had suffered in name ana
social position to some extent by the
developments OF the suit, left the city.
She was lost sight OF Tor several years,
and then Louisians who travelled IL
Europe wrote and brought back Strange
stories OF the sensational doings OF the
beautiful and dash;ng American widow.
At one time she was in Rome, then III
Geneva. Then again she was heard OF
in Paris and Berlin and in many OF the
European capitals. She become famous
through various methods. She cut
something of figure IN politics IN both
France and Italy. Mr.. Louis Hanson,
the wealthy New York tailor, ADVERTISED
for housekeeper, and Mrs. Hill, under
the name and in the guise OF q widow,
got the situation. Size married Hanson
in less than week and III less than 4
week after trouble began. They also
went abroad, where Hanson got some
startling information concerning his
wife. When they returned divorce pro-
ceedings were begun, and after some
litigation they agreed to separate.
Final papers were to be signed on
July4, 1885. On the day before Mrs. Han
son sent for her husband and asked him
to take her out of the city to avoid the
noise of the Fourth. They went to
Storm King Mountain. They We're
alone. Two pistol shots were heard. and
people coming up found Hanson dead,
with a bullet through his head. She
said he shot at her and then committed
suicide. She left the estate for the Pub
lie Administrator to look after and
started for Australia by way OF the
isthmus. She died on the way, and let
tiers nd papers found in her baggage
revealed her identity. The clue was fol-
lowed, and resulted in putting the wealth
in young Hills hands.